TARPON, Megalops atlanticus

Atlantic Tarpon are large highly migratory fish that frequent coastal and inshore waters of the tropical and subtropical central Atlantic Ocean. Their popularity as a supreme recreational fishing challenge has influenced their economic importance throughout their range. At TBRC our research focus applies cutting edge technologies and innovative modeling techniques to study tarpon population dynamics. Since 2001 we have tagged over 250 tarpon with state of the art satellite tracking tags. Employing this technology has led to a perspicacious understanding of adult migratory patterns, habitat, depth, and temperature preferences (see recent studies). This work is ongoing with tagging efforts taking place throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean Sea and Western Atlantic. In addition to large scale tagging efforts, we have established a focused effort on studying the local movement patterns within the Everglades National Park utilizing a combination of satellite and hydro-acoustic tags. [...]

BONEFISH, Albula vulpes

Bonefish are a spectacular, highly prized saltwater game fish known for their elusive behavior, burst swimming speeds and tremendous fighting power. Despite their importance as a premier game fish, little is known about bonefish population and fishery dynamics, stock spatial distribution, spawning migrations, and movements. This lack of vital information has hindered the development of management practices to ensure sustainability of this fishery. At TBRC, we work in collaboration with local fishing guides to measure and conventionally tag bonefish to help understand the population size structure discern their large scale movement patterns. In addition we have used hydro-acoustic tagging methods to better understand fine detail movements. Data from these studies is used to generate spatial models of bonefish population dynamics. [...]

PERMIT, Trachinotus falcatus

Permit utilizes a wide range of habitat types throughout their life-history. They are found throughout the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and as far north as Massachusetts in the Western Atlantic. Although popular as a game fish and harvested throughout their range, little is known of their population status due to a paucity of information on their basic life-history parameters, spatial distribution, movement and spawning behavior. We are currently examining the spatial and temporal dynamics of permit[...]

The Tarpon and Bonefish Research Center (TBRC) at the University of Miami (UM) is an unparalleled leading international initiative for gathering and sharing scientific knowledge, educational resources and policy development related to the sustainment of marine sport fisheries and their ecosystems. The unique center raises awareness across the recreational fishing and scientific communities necessary to promote collaborative efforts which result in, sustainable outcomes for tarpon, bonefish and permit populations.[...]

KBYC Working Man’s Tarpon Tournament by David Bryan, 05/12/2014 Last week Jiangang, Jayce and I participated in Ha Ha’s Key Biscayne Yacht Club’s Working Man’s Tarpon Tournament Wednesday to Friday night. Its a catch and release tournament with lines in at 6:15 pm and out by 8:30. [...]

Our weather station is located in Broad Key, FL, USA. It allows us to monitor the weather in South Florida and relate it to Tarpon and Bonefish movements [...]

In the News

On Nov 7-8, 2014, two of TRBC’s scientist presented some on the centers research at the 5th International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium in Ft Lauderdale, FL.

Jiangang Luo talked about “Ocean habitat utilization by highly-migratory tarpon from satellite-telemetry data” and David Bryan presented “Transport and connectivity modeling of larval permit from and observed spawning aggregation in the Dry Tortugas, Florida”.

Scientists using sharks to help predict Hurricanes

Scientists tagging sharks in Gulf to predict hurricane intensity

Fifty sharks, tuna, tarpon and billfish are swimming around the Gulf of Mexico right now fitted with satellite-linked tags to help scientists track water temperatures and perhaps one day help improve hurricane forecasting. [...]

NYC BTT dinner of legends and lore
Probably the coolest aspect of this fundraiser was listening to arguably the greatest Florida Keys guide ever to live, tell stories about what it was like back then and sadly what it is like now. Nobody gets more respect than Steve Huff and to hear him tell the packed room of extremely well traveled and accomplished anglers how he had lost a part of his heart in experiencing the decline of the keys fishery really hit home for me. [...]

PBS.ORG By Jed Lipinski on Tue
Jerry Ault and Nick Shay were golfing on Key Biscayne when they had the epiphany. It was a humid Saturday in 2011, and the men, colleagues at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, had each had a few beers. Somewhere around the 9th hole, they started talking about the 26° C isotherm. [...]